Inheritance, Probate & Wills · European Union
Plan Your Family Estate So Your Wishes Actually Take Effect
Estate planning is not only about writing a will — it is about making sure your assets reach the people you intend, without avoidable tax, delay or conflict, and that the plan still works when your family spans more than one country. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted estate planning lawyer who builds a coherent plan around your family’s real situation.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
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Who this is for
A coherent plan is what turns good intentions into a settled, certain future
Family estate planning is the process of organising how your assets will be managed during your lifetime and distributed after your death, in a way that reflects your wishes, protects the people you care about and keeps tax and conflict to a minimum. It typically brings together a will, powers of attorney, and sometimes trusts, gifts or a choice of law — and it must account for the inheritance rules of every country your family is connected to. A plan drafted for one legal system can quietly fail in another: forced heirship may override your wishes, a will may not be recognised abroad, and a choice that made sense in one tax regime may prove costly in the next. Done well, estate planning replaces uncertainty and family strain with clarity and control.
Why families get stuck
Most estate plans fail quietly.
The problem only surfaces after someone has gone.
Wishes that are not legally effective, rules that override them, and families spread across countries combine to undo even well-meaning plans.
The plan does not actually work abroad
A will or arrangement drafted for one country may not be recognised in another, or may be overridden by local forced heirship rules — so the distribution that actually happens is not the one you intended.
Forced heirship overrides your wishes
If your family or assets are connected to a civil-law country, a reserved share may go to certain relatives regardless of what your will says, limiting how freely you can dispose of your own estate.
Tax erodes what you intended to leave
Inheritance, gift and succession taxes vary enormously across Europe, and without planning the next generation can lose a significant portion of the estate — sometimes twice, across two countries.
What you get
A plan built for your whole situation, not a one-country template
We only match you with estate planning lawyers who advise families across the succession, tax and cross-border rules that actually apply to them.
Your wishes made legally effective
Your lawyer drafts wills, powers of attorney and supporting documents that are valid and enforceable in every relevant country, so your intentions are carried out rather than merely expressed.
Forced heirship accounted for
Where reserved-share rules apply to your family, your lawyer structures the plan to work within them — so you know exactly how much freedom you genuinely have and plan around it.
Tax exposure reduced lawfully
Your lawyer maps the inheritance and gift tax position across the countries involved and recommends lawful steps to reduce what the next generation pays, without aggressive schemes that invite challenge.
A plan your family can follow
You receive clear, documented guidance on what happens when — who decides, who inherits and when — so your executors and beneficiaries are not left to untangle the estate on their own.
Coverage
Family estate planning lawyers across Europe
Estate planning must reflect the succession law of every country your family touches, so the right lawyer practises in the jurisdictions that matter. We match family estate planning cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Family estate planning — common questions
What is the difference between a will and estate planning?
A will is a single document that distributes your assets on death, while estate planning is the broader process of arranging your affairs — wills, powers of attorney, gifts and sometimes trusts — to achieve your objectives across tax, succession and family protection. A will is usually one part of a wider plan.
Why does estate planning matter for a family living across borders?
Because succession, forced heirship and tax rules differ between countries, an arrangement that works in one place may be ineffective or overridden in another. Cross-border planning ensures your wishes are honoured and tax is minimised lawfully in every relevant jurisdiction.
What is forced heirship and how does it affect my plan?
Forced heirship is the rule in many civil-law countries that a reserved portion of your estate must pass to certain close relatives regardless of your will. It limits how freely you can dispose of your assets, so a valid plan must be built with those rules in mind.
Can I choose which country’s law governs my estate?
Within the EU Succession Regulation, you may in many cases choose the law of your nationality to govern your succession as a whole, subject to certain conditions. Whether such a choice is advisable depends on your assets and family, and should be assessed with specialist advice.
Do I need a power of attorney as well as a will?
A power of attorney covers decisions during your lifetime if you become unable to manage your affairs, while a will covers what happens after death. Most complete estate plans include both, and the two should be coordinated so they do not conflict.
How can I reduce inheritance tax for my family?
Lawful options such as lifetime gifts, the timing and structure of transfers, and making use of allowances or reliefs can reduce the tax burden, but the rules vary greatly between countries. A specialist can identify the steps that are both effective and compliant in your situation.
Free case review
Give your family certainty instead of a contested estate
Tell us about your assets, your family and the countries involved, and we’ll connect you with an estate planning lawyer who builds plans that actually hold up — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.